Russian Gold Reserves Reach 1,500 Tons

Russia Added over Six Tons of Gold to Her Reserves in July

The Russian Central Bank announced this week that its gold reserves had reached 48.4 million troy ounces (approximately 1,505 metric tons). The total included an additional 200,000 ounces (approximately 6.2 metric tons) of gold added in July.

Year to date, the Russian Central Bank has added over 90 tons of gold to reserves. Over the past two years, Russia has led the world in adding gold to her central bank reserves, ahead of the People’s Bank of China, the central bank that has added the second largest of amount of gold.

The Central Bank of Russia added a record 208 tons of gold to reserves in 2015. Last year, Russia suffered financially as international sanctions and plummeting oil prices took their toll on the rouble and the inflation rate reached double digits. According to the World Bank, oil is by far Russia’s largest export and represents about 15-20% of Russia’s GDP and the majority of government revenues. 2016 has started off better for Russia. The price of oil and gold have increased significantly in 2016 and have helped Russia improve its financial situation and reserves.

Russian foreign reserves were at $371 billion in January and have grown to $394 billion as at July 31, 2016.

The pace of Russia’s gold purchases has slacked slightly in 2016 compared to 2015. Through July 2016, the Russian Central Bank has added 2.9 million ounces of gold to reserves compared to 2.6 million ounces added in 2015 during the same time period. In 2015, however, Russia did not add any gold to her reserves in January and February, so the pace from March to July 2015 (520,000 ounces per month) was higher than that from March to July 2016 (380,000 ounces per month).

In May, Russia added 100,000 ounces ( approximately 3 tons) to her reserves, the lowest amount that Russia had added since May 2015. Also in May, the Chinese central bank announced that it had added no gold to its reserves. The cessation of the People’s Bank of China’s gold purchases and the relatively small amount of gold added by the Central Bank of Russia in May, caused some gold market observers to suspect that both central banks were winding down their gold purchases, perhaps in reaction to the increasing price of gold.

In June, the People’s Bank of China added 480,000 ounces (approximately 15 tons) of gold to her reserves but added only 5 tons in July.

Russia Adds Gold To Reserves Despite Economic Weakness

Despite the weakness in the Russian economy, the Russian Central Bank has bolstered its foreign reserves from about $350 billion a year ago to over $393 billion at the end of July 2016. The Russian Central Bank has a stated goal of increasing reserves to about $500 billion in the coming years.

As of July 31 2016, gold constituted about 12% of the Central Bank of Russia’s $394 billion reserves with her gold hoard valued at approximately $51 billion.

Russia added 13.7 million ounces of gold to reserves from June 2014 – July 2016.

U.S. Treasuries as Part of Russia’s Foreign Reserves

In January 2014, Russia’s U.S. Treasury position was $131 billion. In reaction to U.S. inspired sanctions being placed on her, Russia sold a substantial portion of her U.S. Treasury holdings. Russian U.S. Treasury holdings reached a low of $66.5 billion in April 2015. Since then Russia has added back a portion of its U.S. Treasury holdings. As of June 2016, Russia held $90.9 billion in U.S. Treasury Securities.

Despite differences with the United States, Russia has rebuilt a portion of her U.S. Treasury Securities holdings.

The Gold Option

Russia’s pace of adding gold to reserves is the fastest in the world, surpassing China whose gold reserve additions over the past year are the second highest. From August to June 2016 China added 145 tonnes of gold to its reserves, while Russia added 212 tonnes, or 46% more.

As a result of Russia’s gold buying binge, Russia has vaulted into the top ten gold holding nations and is now the sixth largest.

The Central Bank of Russia holds 1505 tons of gold.

Russia’s decision to add gold to reserves has paid off as the price of gold has risen nearly 30% over the past year, with most of the gain coming in 2016. Russian gold mining produces the third largest annual output in the world. Exchanging depreciating Roubles for a good portion of their gold mining output has helped increase the value of Russia’s reserves. By retaining an increasing percentage of its gold mining output the Central Bank of Russia has been in effect converting roubles into gold.